Index rank optimization system and method

Abstract

An index ranking optimization system and method are provided herein.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method executing on a computing system for exposing juice contributions indicative of a target juice value corresponding to a target node within a web of inter-linked nodes, the method comprising:
 obtaining a first index comprising a multiplicity of first-index node entries, said multiplicity of first-index node entries comprising a node entry corresponding to the target node and a plurality of other node entries corresponding to at least a representative sample of the web of inter-linked nodes; 
 identifying via said first index a first plurality of inbound links targeting the target node; 
 for each of said first plurality of inbound links:
 identifying via said first index a current source node corresponding to the current inbound link; 
 obtaining via said first index a current-source-node juice value corresponding to the current source node; and 
 determining, in accordance with a plurality of link-weighting factors, a current juice-passed value indicating a portion of said current-source-node juice value that contributes to said target-node juice value; 
 
 providing, from the computing system to a remote computing system, a plurality of juice-passed values determined for each of said first plurality of inbound links. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining via said first index said current-source-node juice value corresponding to the current source node comprises:
 traversing at least a portion of said web of inter-linked nodes in accordance with said first index; and 
 determining said current-source-node juice value in accordance with said plurality of link-weighting factors. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting, from among said first plurality of inbound links, a second plurality of significant inbound links in accordance with said juice-passed values determined for each of said plurality of inbound links; and 
 providing link metadata associated with said second plurality of significant inbound links from the computing system to said remote computing system. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein selecting said second plurality of significant inbound links comprises:
 ranking said first plurality of inbound links according to their respective juice-passed values; and 
 identifying inbound links that rank highly. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein selecting said second plurality of significant inbound links comprises:
 grouping said first plurality of inbound links into a plurality of link groups according to a link metadata criterion; 
 determining an aggregate juice-passed value for each of said plurality of link groups; 
 ranking said plurality of link groups according to their respective aggregate juice-passed values; and 
 identifying link groups that rank highly. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining a user-provided selection criterion; 
 selecting, from among said first plurality of inbound links, a second plurality of selected inbound links in accordance with said user-provided selection criterion; and 
 providing link metadata associated with said second plurality of selected inbound links from the computing system to said remote computing system. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein said user-provided selection criterion comprises at least one of an image-link criterion, a redirect criterion, a meta-refresh criterion, a link-source-node attribute criterion, and a source-node content criterion. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing, from the computing system to a remote computing system, at least one of a count of said first plurality of inbound links and a freshness indication associated with at least one first-index entry associated with the target node. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying via said first index a first plurality of outbound links sourced from the target node; and 
 for each of said plurality of outbound links:
 identifying via said first index a current outbound-target node corresponding to the current outbound link; 
 identifying via said first index a current outbound-target-node juice value corresponding to the current outbound-target node; and 
 determining, in accordance with said plurality of link-weighting factors, a contribution value indicating a positive or negative contribution to said target-node juice value, said contribution value being associated with the current outbound link. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein obtaining a first index comprising a multiplicity of first-index node entries comprises creating said first index to overlap a closed index, said closed index comprising a plurality of closed-index node entries and a corresponding plurality of closed-index juice values, and wherein said plurality of link-weighting factors are indicative of said plurality of closed-index juice values. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said first index further comprises:
 a plurality of link entries, each link entry indicating a source one of the plurality of first-index node entries and a target one of the plurality of first-index node entries; and 
 a plurality of link metadata entries corresponding to said plurality of link entries. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein creating said first index overlapping said closed index comprises:
 for each of a plurality of nodes:
 recording a node entry corresponding to the current node; 
 obtaining content data corresponding to the current node, said content data including one or more outbound links and a plurality of non-link content data; 
 for each outbound link:
 recording a link entry indicating the current node and a target node; and 
 recording a link metadata entry corresponding to the current outbound link. 
 
 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein creating said first index overlapping said closed index further comprises discarding at least a majority of said non-link content data. 
     
     
       14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       15. A computing apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform the method of  claim 1 .